Major city · Costa Rica
La FortunaLa Fortuna de San Carlos
Stay 3 nights: one for the volcano and hot springs, one for the waterfall and Río Fortuna, one spare for rain. Fewer nights and you gamble the whole trip on cloud.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CRC
- Best months
- Feb–Apr (driest, best volcano views); Dec–Apr generally
- avoid Sep–Oct (wettest); peak Christmas–New Year for prices
- Airports
- SJO · LIR · FON
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 7Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Costa Rica ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Costa Rica's immigration authority (Migración) or a Costa Rican consulate; proof of onward travel is commonly required.
- Costa Rica ↗Rental cars require mandatory local liability insurance, often not included in online quotes: check the full price before booking.
- Costa Rica ↗Do not feed wildlife, including monkeys and coatis; it is illegal and harmful.
- Costa Rica ↗Buy national park tickets (Manuel Antonio, Poás, Irazú and others) online from SINAC before you go; several parks do not sell at the gate and cap daily numbers.
La Fortuna is a small grid town of about 15,000 people on the east side of Arenal Volcano, and almost everything you came for sits 5–25 km outside it. The volcano stopped erupting in 2010, so the draw now is the cone itself on a clear morning, the Río Fortuna waterfall, hot springs and hanging-bridge forest walks. Three nights is the working number: two full days plus a weather buffer, because Arenal is often in cloud and the summit shows itself without warning.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about La Fortuna, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Costa Rican colón (CRC, ₡); US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, with change often given in colones.Costa Rica-wide
- SIM or eSIMKölbi, Claro and Liberty sell SIMs at SJO and in towns; passport required.Costa Rica-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in most of the country, including San José; drink bottled on parts of the Caribbean coast and in remote areas.Costa Rica-wide
- TippingRestaurants: 10% service is in the bill; extra optional.Costa Rica-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Costa Rica-wide
- SafetyLa Fortuna is a small, busy tourist town and violent crime is rare.
- RestroomsWestern toilets; put paper in the bin in many places.Costa Rica-wide
- Emergency numbers911 All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)
- Sundays & holidayscheckManuel Antonio closes on Tuesdays (check); Semana Santa Thursday–Friday shuts most businesses.Costa Rica-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportSJO Juan Santamaría International, San José (About 3–3.5 h by road; shared shuttles from about US$30, private transfers more).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable; everything else is not.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee₡1,000–2,000
- Beerbar / supermarket₡2,000–3,500₡1,000–1,500
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi in town₡2,000–4,000
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₡8,000–15,000
- Museum or sight ticketHot springs entry, adultUS$47–89 (check)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personCRC 12,000
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomCRC 65,000
- High-end bedDouble room, mid-range hotel, a night, per roomCRC 130,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CRC 25,000 · Mid CRC 55,000 · High CRC 110,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SJO Juan Santamaría International, San José (About 3–3.5 h by road; shared shuttles from about US$30, private transfers more) · LIR Daniel Oduber Quirós International, Liberia (About 2.5–3 h by road; useful if you fly into Guanacaste first) · FON Arenal/La Fortuna domestic airstrip (Domestic flights from San José or Quepos, roughly US$90; small planes, weight limits apply (check))
Weather and climate
La Fortuna: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
12 rd
Feb
29°C84°F
20°C68°F
9 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
20°C68°F
8 rd
Apr
31°C88°F
21°C70°F
9 rd
May
30°C86°F
21°C70°F
16 rd
Jun
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
19 rd
Jul
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
20 rd
Aug
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
20 rd
Sep
29°C84°F
21°C70°F
21 rd
Oct
28°C82°F
21°C70°F
21 rd
Nov
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
18 rd
Dec
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
15 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town is walkable; everything else is not. Taxis wait near the central park, ride-hailing apps often cost about half a taxi, and scooters rent for about US$40 a day (less for five days or more). Tours include pickup, which is the simplest option without a car. Roads to the park and El Castillo are paved but narrow, with one-lane bridges.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Arenal Volcano National Park and El Mirador
goDoor to door: Half a day
Tour minibus or your own car to the park entrance, then a walk over lava rock
Go on your first clear afternoon. Views from the park are often poor; the cone shows better from the lake side.
Río Fortuna waterfall
goDoor to door: 2–3 h
Taxi or tour from town, about 15 min; entrance closes 17:00Taxi or tour from town, about 15 min; entrance closes 5:00 PM
About 10 min down the steps, 20 min back up; swimsuit for the pool below. Foreign adult entry about US$20 (check).
El Castillo and Lake Arenal
goDoor to door: Half a day
Car or taxi, about 25 km westCar or taxi, about 16 mi west
Best lake-and-volcano views on the road above the village; pair with the butterfly conservatory.
Monteverde
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
Jeep-boat-jeep across Lake Arenal, or the long road around
A transfer, not a day trip: sleep there.
Caño Negro wetlands
cautionDoor to door: Full day
Organised tour north toward Los Chiles
Wildlife boat trip; best in the wet season when water levels are high.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
La Fortuna town centre
Walkable to sodas, tour offices and the bus stop; cheapest beds and no volcano view. Best if you have no car.
Road to the volcano (6–8 km west)
Hotels and lodges with cone views, between town and the park; you need a car, taxi or shuttle for everything.
El Castillo and Lake Arenal side
25 km west, quieter, best lake-and-volcano views; good for two nights if you want to slow down.16 mi west, quieter, best lake-and-volcano views; good for two nights if you want to slow down.
Tabacón / Baldí corridor
Hot-spring resorts clustered on one road; convenient for springs, far from town restaurants.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₡25,000–40,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- ₡45,000–80,000 excl. bed
- High
- ₡90,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid-range hotel1 × 3 nights × CRC 65,000 | CRC 195,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × CRC 55,000 | CRC 330,000 |
| Shared shuttle San José → La Fortuna, one way2 × CRC 15,000 · check | CRC 30,000 |
| Río Fortuna waterfall entry, foreign adult2 × CRC 10,000 · check | CRC 20,000 |
| Baldí hot springs entry, adult2 × CRC 24,000 · check | CRC 48,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × CRC 12,000 | CRC 24,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CRC 64,700 |
| Trip total≈ CRC 118,600 per person per day, bed included | CRC 711,700 |
2026 estimate in colones; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Soda plate (rice, beans, salad, meat, drink) | ₡3,000–4,000 |
| Casado de pollo at a mid-range café | ₡3,000–6,000 |
| Coffee | ₡1,000–2,000 |
| Beer, bar / supermarket | ₡2,000–3,500 / ₡1,000–1,500 |
| Scooter rental, per day | US$40, down to about US$20 for 5+ days (check) |
| Taxi in town | ₡2,000–4,000 |
| Hot springs entry, adult | US$47–89 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₡8,000–15,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The volcano has not erupted since 2010: no lava at night, whatever a tout tells you.
- Cloud is the norm: book the volcano hike for your first clear afternoon, not your last morning.
- Hot springs during heavy rain: colder rainwater mixing with warm spring water raises the infection risk; go when it is dry.
- Tabaconcito, the free river spot across from Tabacón, has no facilities and no lights after dark: bring a torch.
- Bus timetables out of La Fortuna are unreliable and touts exploit it; arrive early and plan an hour of slack.
- Card and cash: dollars are widely accepted, but small sodas and taxis prefer colones.
Emergency numbers
- All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance)
- 911
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
La FortunaLa Fortuna de San Carlos
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies911
Embassy
No embassies in La Fortuna; the US, UK, Canada and most others are in San José. Consular help for the region comes from San José.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Shared shuttle San José → La Fortuna: from about US$30, 3–3.5 h (check)
- Public bus San José → La Fortuna: about US$7, 5.5 h (check)
- Taxi town centre → waterfall: ₡6,000–10,000 (check)
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
- La cuenta, por favor — The bill, please (la KWEN-ta por fa-VOR)
- ¿Dónde está la parada de bus? — Where is the bus stop? (DON-de es-TA la pa-RA-da de bus)
- ¿Es seguro nadar aquí? — Is it safe to swim here? (es se-GU-ro na-DAR a-KI)
- Tengo una reservación — I have a reservation (TEN-go U-na re-ser-va-SION)
- ¡Ayuda! — Help! (a-YU-da)
Prices in colones; dollars widely accepted. Tipping: 10% service is usually already in the bill; tip guides and drivers extra.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for La Fortuna. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–Apr (driest, best volcano views); Dec–Apr generally · avoid Sep–Oct (wettest); peak Christmas–New Year for prices · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SJO and LIR: shuttle departure windows, private-transfer fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: town centre, the volcano road, Tabacón/Baldí, El Castillo.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (waterfall, national park, hot springs, hanging bridges) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rain-day fixtures so the itinerary survives a washed-out afternoon.
Sources
- officialVisit Costa Rica — Arenal and La Fortuna
- officialCatarata Río Fortuna (official waterfall site)
- officialBaldí Hot Springs (official)
- officialEcoTermales Fortuna (official)
- officialAerobell Airlines — domestic flights to La Fortuna/Arenal
- secondaryWikivoyage: La Fortuna, revision 5340112 (CC BY-SA 4.0)